Seeing isn't believing

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To legions of internet geeks she's the "International Librarian
of Mystery". Natalie is smart, sexy and cool. A librarian with a
wild streak and toast of the net.

Log on to bizgirl and
watch her pull down her hair and take off her glasses. Natalie
Bizgirl is one of five Australasian nominees for the annual Bloggie
awards, for web logs or "blogs", and the only Kiwi. She writes
about life in the library with the fearsome Mrs Darjeeling and
others. She writes about her relationship with Josh, now ended, and
takes you deep into the heart of the modern girl. Almost.

Recently Natalie was "dooced" - fired after writing something
about her job on a web log - just before Christmas, and she was
flat broke. But her fans gave a lot of sympathy. Over the years
some have even sent her marriage proposals.

Voting has closed and next month Natalie will find out whether
putting her life story on the web will be rewarded with a coveted
Bloggie, the online equivalent of an Oscar.

There's a hitch. Natalie Bizgirl is really James Guthrie, of
Wellington, married with children and (last time we checked) a
bloke. He created Natalie six years ago but his secret was exposed
late last year after he won a local web award. "I was a bit worried
there'd be a more hostile backlash from some of the more ardent
male fans of the site, but that hasn't happened at all," he told
Spike.

Shadow minestrone

What Julia Gillard's kitchen lacks in ambience she more than
makes up for in humour. The Opposition health spokeswoman proved
she was quite the funster yesterday when she gave a speech to the
Committee for Economic Development of Australia, in Melbourne.

She opened her talk with: "Thank you for the opportunity to be
with you today. I'm aware that CEDA was really hoping to secure
Nigella Lawson to speak today on how to be a domestic goddess, and
other topics deemed appropriate for women. I trust I don't prove to
be a too unsatisfactory replacement and I apologise up front for
intending to discuss Australia's future rather than dispensing
recipes.

"Unfortunately, I know more about public policy than I do about
cookery, but I do appreciate that, in the eyes of some, this is a
clear character defect that needs remedying."

Melbourne unleashed

Was Kim Beazley trying to fire up the old "which city is best"
debate when being interviewed by the Herald this week?
"Sydney's bustling, Sydney's a more commercial sort of go get 'em
place," he said. "That really, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, [are] much
the same sorts of cities. Much the same sort of sentiment.
Melbourne is different. In my home city, we go out and walk our
dogs. In Melbourne they go out and walk each other."

How Spike reader Reggie Lawless would like to see Sandra "Saucy" Sully.

Late-night lively

Sandra "Saucy" Sully is already known to some of her legions of
(mostly male) fans as Sandra Sultry, and they're more than happy
with the new "relaxed" approach Channel Ten is taking to her
late-night news bulletin.

In fact, it inspired Spike reader Reggie Lawless to come up with
his own bit of digital mischief, dreaming up how he would like to
see Sully do tonight's bulletin.

Although it's not her in the picture, we will have to wait and
see if she runs with the idea.

Best and fairest

She might have missed out at the Golden Globes and probably
won't do too well at the Oscars, but at least Nicole Kidman can say
she's won one award this year.

This week she received a lifetime achievement award for looking
after her skin. Doled out by a Californian dermatologist, Dr Vail
Reese, each year, the Skinnies Awards recognise people who care for
their skin responsibly, Ananova.com reports. "For the longest time,
Nicole Kidman has been a role model for the fair-skinned. She's
pale and suffers apparent hand eczema, and yet she's one of the
most attractive women," Dr Reese said.

Oh well, it might not be a gold statue, but it's something.

Poster boy

Channel Nine's advertising people have finally caught up with
their news counterparts (Spike, Tuesday) and replaced the Victoria
Road billboard showing the reassuringly sincere face of Jim Waley
next to Ray Martin's grinning mug. The new billboard depicts a
gargantuan and wrinkle-free Mark Ferguson and the slogan "Nine,
Australian for news". But Ray Martin is missing. Oversight or eerie
omen? Time will tell.

Ellen buddy's tattoo

It looks like Bec and Lleyton aren't the only Aussies with tying
the knot - after a relatively short time together - on their minds.
Expat Portia de Rossi gave her US talkshow-host girlfriend of
two-months, Ellen DeGeneres, a Tiffany platinum wedding band for
her birthday last week, reports the New York Post. De Rossi,
32, then bought herself a matching band, despite still sporting the
tattooed initials of her former lover, Francesca Gregorini, on her
hand.

"It signifies their commitment to each other," an insider told
the Post.